Flaring tool for shaping pipe ends



Dec. 8, 1931. A. LA R. PARKER 1,835,179

FLRING' TOOL FOR SHAPING PIPE ENDS I 4.

Flllfi-dOGI.. 17, 1928 2 SheetS-Sheet l De@ 8, 1931- A. LA R. PARKER1,835,179

FLARING TOOL FR SHAPING PIPE ENDS FiledOCt. 17, 1928-. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2f ,l .i 7.

I g 43 2 J 9 44 L9 2 ,31 I la f/ @t f f f 44@ f @l J0 i D 2Q' ,/g' 5] 7li J1 ss i .23 i? f. I' i U i 1 M304@ n'Patented Dec. 8, 1.931

.ARTHUR LA. RUE PARKER, F CLEVELAND, OHO

FLABING TOOL FOR SHAPING PIPE ENDS Application led October 17, 1928.Serial No. 313,085.

The invention relates to new and useful improvementsl in flaring toolsfor shaping tubes, and more particularly a flaring tool which may be.used for tapering a tube end preparatory to the securing of the tube toan attaching coupling.

An object of the inventionv is to provide a flaring tool which may beused in. conjunction with a portion of the'coupling by which ju)y thetube is to'be attached later, for flaring theend of the tube for suchattachment, and in particular to employ the coupling portion whichsurrounds the tube for such purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flaring tool of theabove type which includes a body portion adapted to be attached in apredetermined position to a coupling member, and a flaring plunger whichmay be driven into the end of the tube placed 2o in thev coupling memberfor flaring the end of the tube so as to cause the flared end of thetube to snugly fit the seat on the cous pling member associated with theflaring tool. /f A further object of the invention is to provide theparts of the flaring tool for cooperation with the tube-surroundingportion of the coupling so that the gaging or measurement of the tool isautomatically accomplished in inserting it in position in the saidtube-surrounding portion of the coupling so that a flare of apredetermined size is obtained directly. y

These and other objects will in part bepbvious and will in part be morefully disclosed. l

l In the/drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the flaring tool embodying the improvements,also showing a portion of a coupling with which it may be associated forthe flaring of the end' of the tube.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the flaring tool after it has beenattached to the coupling and a tube inserted in position for daring. I l

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the tube as flared bythe flaring tool, and the flared end of the tube brought into closefitting contact with the tapered seat onythel coupling member. v

Fig. 4. shows the tube and coupling which are' used in connection withthe flaring tool v after the flaring tool has been removed and 4theportion of the coupling is ready vto receive the other member of thecoupling.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the flaring tool for use in conjunctionwith a slightly different coupling portion.

Fig. 6 shows thefparts of Fig. 5, in they formed position.

Fig. 7 is a further modification of the flaring tool, and

Fig. 8 'shows the position. i

The invention is directed broadly to a flaring tool for llaring the endof a tube which is secured to a coupling by said flared end. The flaringtool includes a body member which is adapted to be secured to the nutportion of a coupling which afterward surrounds the tube, and in apredetermined position thereon. Mounted within this body member is aplunger which is free to move endwise in the body member to a limitedextent. The inner end of the plunger is `formed with a head havingatapered face which is adapted to enter the end of the tube. The bodyportion isthreaded onto the nut portion of the coupling, then the tubeis inserted and makes contact with ythe flaring head of the tool, withthe plunger retracted to the full limit from the body member, 4afterwhich the tube is held in the hand and a blow struck against theplunger, which will cause' the tapered end on the plungerto flare theend of the tube. The extent to which the end isvflared is limited by theseat of the nut portion of the coupling. i l

Referring more in detail to the drawings, in Figs. 1 to 4 the Haringtool consists of a parts of 7 in formed bodyportion 1 and a plunger 2having a head 3 which is preferably formed of nickel steel treated sothat it is not easily distorted when subjected to hammer blows. The bodyportion l is formed with an interior recess, the outer end of which isthreaded as indicated at 4. The recess extends all the way through thebody portion so that in a measure it is of vso ` parts in assembledposition.

sleeve-form. The portion 5 of the recess is of smaller diameter than theremainder of the recess. On the lower end of the plunger 2 is a taperedhead 6, which tapered head is provided with a shoulder 7 adapted toengage the shoulder between the portion 5 of the recess and the threadedportion of thc recess. This limits the outward movement ofthe plunger.

This flaring tool is adapted to be used in conjunction with the nutportion of a coupling, being that portion which surrounds the tubeduring the final assembly of the coupling; and the flaring toolcooperates with this portion of the coupling so that the flare isestablished upon and is determined by the shape of this portion itself,so that there is absolute accuracy in the shape of the flared end whenso formed. In Figsl to 4, the nut portion 8 is a continuous ring and isformed with external screw-threads 10 extending from its shoulder 9:such a type of coupling `being shown in my Patent No. 1,619,755, grantedMarch 1, 1927. At the end of the 11a. is threaded onto this nut portion8 of the coupling until the lower end of the body portion engages theshoulder 9. This place-s the fiar` ing tool in a predetermined positionon the nut portion of the coupling and holds the A tube end which is tobe joined lto the coupling is inserted through the nut portion 8 untilit engages a flared end of the plunger. rl`he plunger is then movedoutward in the body portion until the shoulder 7 limits the movementthereof.

The position of the body portion on the coupling member and the movingof the plunger into engagement with the shoulder, insures that the tubeend will be extended into the Haring tool and into the nut portion ofthe coupling just the desired extent 'for flaring the end thereof. Inother words, the flaring tool limits the distance which the tube can beflared the extending sb oulder 10a bevond the threads 10 is preferablydesigned to form a close fit withV internal wall 3n of the body member1, for assisting in this effect. After the parts have been placed asstated, then the workman holds the tube in one hand while a blow isstruck against the cap 3 of the plunger. Thisforces the tapered end ofthe plunger into the tube, and causes the end of the tube to be flared.The extent to which the tube is flared is limited by the flared end 11of the tube contacting'with the seat 11a of the nut portion of thecoupling. gether with the nut portion of the coupling, limits the extentof the flared end of the tube and serves as a die inthe flaring of thetube. This'insures that the flared end of the tube will firmly fitagainst the seat on the nut portion.

The tool, to-

Although. the plunger may be struck with .considerable force` it isimpossible to materially damage or distort the nut portion, as thelatter has a smooth, snug fit inthe flaring tool. There is, of course,some tendency to expand the tube slightly within the nut por- A tion,and this takes up the tolerance in the nut portion 8, although theexpansion is not enough to make the nut portion grip the tube. All ofthe parts of the tool are preferably made of steel. y

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the parts arearranged similary to those of the forms of Figs. 1 to 4, except that thecoupling portion 28 surrounding the tube is formed with internalscrew-threads 30 to cooperate with external. screw-threads 24 formed onthe body portion 21 of the flaring tool which has a guide passage 25 forthe plunger 2. In operation, the tube is inserted through the channel ofthe coupling portion 28 until it is in contact with the tapered head 6of the plunger 2 in the most withdrawn position of the latter: Thisestablishes the size of the flared end 31 to be formed. The

head 3 is now struck as before whereby to drive the tapered head 6 intothe tube to form the latter in conjunction with the tapered seat 31a ofthe coupling portion 28. It will be noted that the Vshoulder 27 servesto ixedly establish the measuring position of the tapered head 6.

The modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is simplified by the eliminatingof a relatively movable plunger. In this structure, the coupling portion48 is formed with screwthreads 50 to engage the cooperating threads 44on the plug 43. Thisplug 43 itself has a tapered head 6 as before whichis to form the flared end of the tube in conjunction with the taperedseat 50a-on the coupling portion 48. In operation, the tube is slippedinto the channel through the coupling portion 48 until it comes incontact with the tapered head 6. A blow or blows upon the end of theplug 43 will cause the tube to expand into a flare 51 at its end, whileboth the coupling portion 48 and the plug 43 make a relative movementwith respect to the tube.

In each instance, it will bevnoted that the respective coupling portion8, 28 or 48'which is later to surround the tube in establishing thecoupling itself, is placed upon the tube and employed as a matrix o'ranvil upon which the flared end' 11, 31 or 51 is shaped by a taperedhead operating upon the inside of the tube. In other words, the exteriorof this flared end of the tube is formed upon the selfsame seat uponwhich it, is to be located when in position in the coupling.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the forms ofexecution shown, but that it may be applied in many ways within thescope of the appended claims.

What I` claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. Aflaring tool including a body portion adapted to be attached to acoupling member having a tapered seat for engaging the ilared end of atube, and a plunger movable in said body portion and having a taperedhead adapted to enter the, end ot 'the tube when said plunger is movedAinwardly for Haring the end of the tube, said tapered seat on thecoupling member being adapted to limit the movement of the plunger sothat the end of the tube is flared to :tit said seat, said plunger andsaid body portion having means for limiting the outward movement of theplunger so as to properly position the tube for the flaring of the endthereof to the desired extent.

2. A aring tool including a bodyl portion adapted to be attached to acoupling member having 'a tapered seat for engaging the flared endof atube, and a plunger movable in said body portion and having a taperedhead adapted to enter the end of the tube when said plunger is movedinwardly for flaring the end of the tube, said tapered seat on thecoupling member being adapted to limit the movement of the plunger sothat the end of the tube is Hared to it said seat, said plunger and saidbody portion having means for limiting the outward movement of theplunger so as -to properly position the eter at the other end, saidother end being in,

ternally threaded, said plunger having enlarged heads at its ends, theheadat the end inside the body` portion being substantially of the largeinside diameter of the bodyv portion and shaped to establish the flareon the end of the tube. Y

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature.

ARTHUR LA RUE PARKER.

tube for the iaring of the end thereof to I the desired extent, saidplunger having av cap adapted to be struck a blow for the moving of theplunger to flare the tube.

3. In a flaring tool for forming a flared end on a tube preparatory toforming therewith a coupling, a member adapted later to form the glandfor the coupling and providing a seat, a body having means for attachingsaid member thereto, a die to form the inner surface of said iared end,said body including means to locate and guide said die, said memberbeing adapted to be seated around the tube withthe body attached theretowhereby said seat can serve as a.

matrix to cooperate with said die to form said flared end, andthereafter said seat can serve in the coupling as a compression memberacting upon said flared end.

4. A flaring tool for forming a tube for assembly in a coupling having anut portion comprising a continuous ring surrounding the tube, said toolincluding a body portion I adapted to be attached to said nut portionand having a recess in axial alinement with the tube receiving openingof said nut po-rtion, said recess having a cylindrical portion of lesserdiameter at the end away from the nut portion, a plunger axiallyslidable'in said cylindrical portion and having a iiareshaping endinsidesaid recess of greater diameter than said cylindrical portion, anda striking head secured to the outer end of said

